Hydroplane



R. E. VENTRES S, sR.

HYDROPLANE.

APFLlCA H ON FILED AUG-|6,1921- 1,436,552. a Patented N0v.21,1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEE1 I.

WITNESSES ATIORNEY INVENTOR R. E. VENTRESS HYDROPLANE.

APPLICA ION FILED AU 5 SHEETSSHEE1 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSE S:

R. E. VENTRESS, SR.

HYDROPLANE.

AFPUCATION FILED AUGJB, IQZI. 1 43 559 Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

SSHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY i if WITNESSES:

R. E. VENTRESS, SR-

.APPLICATION FILED AUG I6, 1921.

HYDROPLANE.

Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

w 5SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY R. E- VENT HESS, SR.

HYDROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-16,192!- J 1 h 6: 1,436,552, laltenied Mn. 21, 1922,

5 SHEETS-SHEEI 5.

fiiwnrnf 1/51 7225: 57?.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

NETED STATES ROBERT EMMET V ENTRESS, $3., OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

HYDROPLAN E.

Application filed August 16, 1921. Serial No. 492,667.

To wZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT E. VnN'rRnss, Sn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have "invented new and useful Improvements in Hydroplanes, of which the followin is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flying machines of the heavier than. air type and is an improvement upon an application. filed by me Nov. 16, 1920, Serial No. 424,422, and allowed April 23, 1921.

The above mentioned application provides a flying machine in which the propellers may be shifted to any position from a horizontal to a vertical, or .vice versa and maintained in such position, so that the propellers may be used to exert a lifting action and permit the machine to rise or descend vertically, as well as. to provide for a forward movement of the machine,

One of the'objects of the present improvement is the provision of means whereby the above may be accomplished by a direct drive with the propeller shaft coupled directly to the motor shafts to eliminate the use of gears and thus reduce much of the friction and the cost required for the operation of the machine, while the danger of accident due to faulty drive connections is likewise reduced.

Another object is the provision of means operated by the propeller adjusting means for locking the propeller shaft in its normal position and for automatically releasing the same when it is desired to adjust the propeller.

A further object is the provision of a mechanism which includes the above and other characteristics, which is simple in construct-ion, positive in operation and which may be used in flying machines of various types.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fi re 1 is a side elevation showing a hydrop ane with the invention applied thereto, the propeller being shown in normal position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the pro eller in vertical position.

igure 3,, is a lan view with the proeller shown in tiie position illustrated in igure 1.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the same. Figure 5 is a front elevation with the parts shown in the position illustrated in Fi re 2.

igure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates the body or fuselage of the machine which is provided with the usual rudder 11 having the usual or any preferred control 12.. The machine may be either of the monoplane or biplane type, the latter being shown and for this purpose there is suitably connected to the fuselage 10 upper and lower planes 13 and 14, equipped with the usual struts 15 and guy wires 16.

The invention includes a pair of spaced uprights or supports 17, having a shaft 18 extending transversely across and connect ing their lower ends. Pivotally mounted upon pintles 19 in the upper ends of the standards 17 is an arm structure 20. This structure includes spaced plates 21 through which the pintles 19 extend, the said plates being connected upon one side of the pintles by meansof cross bars 22. Upon the opposite side of the pintles, the plates are connected by a base plate 23 which forms a bed to which the engine or motor 24 may be secured.

The drive shaft25 of the engine-is connected by means of a coupling 26 with "a propeller shaft 27, the latter being mounted in suitable bearings provided in the transverse bars 22. The shaft 27 extends beyond the end of the arm structure 20 and is provided with a propeller 28.

By .mounting the engine and the propeller shaft upon the arm structure in the manner shown, the latter may be pivotally moved upon the pintles 19 to any desired position and'to accomplish this pivotal movement, the pintles 19 extend beyond the standards and have secured thereon sprockets 29. These sprockets are connected by means of chains 30 with sprockets 31 secured upon the extended ends of the shaft 18. Keyed upon the shaft 18 intermediate the uprights 17 is a bell crank lever 32. One arm of this lever is connected by means of a link 33 with an internally threaded sleeve or'nut 34,the latter having an car 35 extending therefrom for connection with the link. The sleeve 34 operates upon a threaded shaft 36, the latter being mounted in suitable bearings provided in a supporting frame 37. The shaft 36 extends beyondthe frame and is provided with an operating wheel 38, by'means of which the arm may be pivotally moved.

By rotating the shaft 36 in one direction, the arm 20 together with the engine and propeller may be elevated to control the operation of theflying machine for movement in one direction, while a reverseoperation of the threaded shaft 36 will move the arm 20 in an opposite direction.

Secured to the other arm of the bell crank 32 is a connecting rod 39, the outer end of this rod being secured to a dog or a latch 40 which is pivotally mounted as at 41 in the outer ends of arms 42. These arms are braced by stay rods 43 which have one end connected to the outer ends of the arms 42 and their opposite ends secured to the supports 17. Braces 44 are also provided which have theirupper ends connected to the inner ends of thearms'42 and the lower ends secured to a suitable permanent portion of the flying structure. The, dogs 40 are. proand an inward movement to the upper end of the dog 40 so as to disengage the latter from the rod 46 and permit the arm 20 to move upward. Upon. a reverse movement of the threaded shaft 3.6, a. reverse operation of the parts will occur and. the dog-be re-engaged with the rod 46, as will-heapparent.

' The invention issus'cept1ble of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of constructionand'the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

member vertically.

Having described the invention what is claimed is able mounting for the motor and propeller shaft, means for adjusting the mounting and means controlled by the mounting adjusting means for locking said mounting in normal position and for releasing the same.

'2. The combination with a flying machine including a motor and a propeller shaft, of a pivotally mounted vertically movable member, means for supporting the motor and propeller shaft upon said member, means for locking said member in horizontal position and simultaneously operated means for releasing and moving said member in a. vertical direction.

3. The combination with a H ing machine including a motor and a propel er shaft, of a pivotally mounted vertically movable member, means for supporting the motor and propeller shaft upon said member, means for locking said member in horizontal position and means including a threaded shaft operatively connected to said'member and locking means for simultaneously moving the member and operating the member looking means.

4. The combination with a flying machine including a motor and a ropeller shaft, a pivotally mounted verticafi ber, means for supporti propeller shaft upon sail? the motor and for locking said member in horizontal posi-.

tion, an operating shaft and means engageable withvthe operating shaft and opera. tively connected to the. pivotally mounted member for releasing the same and moving said member vertically.-

y movable mem-' member, means 5. The combination with a flying machine including a motor and a propeller shaft,-of'

a pivotally mounted vertically movablemember, means for supporting the motor and propeller shaft upon said member,'; means for locking said member in horizon; vtal position, an operating shaft, a rock shaft" and means including a link and bell crank connection between the operating shaft and rock shaft for releasingmndmoving said In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature. I RQBERT ,FMIIET VENTRESS, Sr. 

